Circuit maker and breaker



Sept. 12, 1933. s. s. CONNELL CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Original Filed Feb. 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l 31mentor @ZM/F. /WM

Gttorncg Sept. 12, 1933. s. s. CONNELL CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Original Filed Feb. 10, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 91 mw/ W.

m mu\ lnnentor Gttomeg a of the circuit maker and breaker.

Patented Sept. 12, 1933 PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT MAKER AND BREAKER Sidney S. Connell, Washington, D. 0., assignor a of eighty-two per cent to William H. Grund a g and Edward H. Spindler, trustees Application February 10, 1931, Serial No. 514,873

Renewed August 22, 1932 4 Claims.

YMy present invention relates to improvements in circuit makers and breakers of the retarded type utilizing an electro-magnet and dash-pot in combination with an operating lever, to insure V a device that is simple in construction and op- 'eration', and which comprises a minimum number of parts thereby rendering the device capable of manufacture at low cost of production.

The primary object of the invention is the pro- ;vision of a time measuring device, or time controlling device, capable of use with various kinds of instruments, machines and apparatus, for the purpose of permitting operations or use of the instrument for a predetermined ;period of time, after which the device automatically renders the instrument inoperative. The contacts of the circuit makers and breakers employed in the device are accurately controlled by means of adjustable parts of the time consuming or time measuring device, and these parts may ,25; tached'.

Means are utilized for automatically resetting the time measuring device after its operation, and the initial starting of the device may be manually controlled, or automatically controlled as by the use of a coin controlled mechanism in a slot machine.

The invention consists in certain novel combinations and arrangements of parts as will hereinafter be more fully set forth and claimed. In

L the accompanying drawings I have illustrated one complete example of the physical embodiment or" my invention wherein the parts are combined and arranged according to the best mode I have thus far devised for the practical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a sectional detail view, showing parts of my invention in full lines. Figure 2 is a plan view of the bottom face of the piston or plunger of the dash-pot utilized in the operation Figure 3 is a top plan view of the deviceof Figure 1. Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view at line 4-4 of Figure 1 Figure .5 is a diagrammatic view showing the wiring and electrical circuits together with a telephone that is controlled by the device of my invention.

For convenience in. understanding the utility and operation of the device of my invention I r have shown it in use with a telephone, such for w instance as a dial phone that is used in the booths or public pay stations of the telephone system, and operated by depositing a coin in a typical slot-machine, but it will be understood that the device of my invention is adapted for use with various other instruments, machines, and apparatus, for controlling or measuring a predetermined period of time during which such instrument may be operated.

In the diagram of Figure 5 the telephone receiver l and transmitter 2 are included in the usual circuit 3 which is connected with the main lines 4 and 5, and the normally open telephone switch indicated as a whole by the numeral 6, is to be closed for a predetermined period of time for use by a patron. A normally open, coin operated switch 7 (which in some instances may be a manually operated switch) is located in the auxiliary circuit 7 and connected with a suitable scurce of electrical energ as the line wires 4 and 5, and the primary circuit 8 includes an electromagnet or solenoid, forms a motor 9 in connection with the control switch 10. I

The various parts of the device may be supported on a base plate or board 11, and the solenoid or motor magnet 9 is shown as enclosed in a casing 12 that is threaded on the head 13, and the latter is secured, as by screw 14 to the base board.

The solenoid has a central core 15 of tubular shape, and the armature 16 which reciprocates in the tubular core has a stem 17 that is provided with a forked end and pivoted at 18 on the free end of the longer arm of a lever 19. The lever is pivoted at 20 on a suitable bracket 21 secured to the base board, and the shorter end of the lever is provided with a re-setting spring 22 that is anchored on the bolt 23 mounted in the base board. The tension of the spring may be varied and adjusted byv means of lock nuts 24 and 25 above and below the base board and threaded on the bolt, and the spring is designed to return the lever to position of Figure 1 after an operation by the lever, and retain the lever in such position until its next stroke or operation.

The lever 19 is operated and its longer arm is depressed (as indicated by dotted lines in Figure 1) by means of the motor magnet or solenoid 9 when the latter is energized, and the magnet is energized when the coin operating switch 7 is closed by action of a coin deposited in usual manner in a slot machine. The movement or down stroke of the longer arm of the lever is measured or controlled by the use of a retarding device connected with the longer arm of the lever, and thereby the period of time during which the phone switch 6 remains closed is predetermined and governed.

The retarding device is in the nature of a pneumatic dash-pot and includes a cylinder 26 having a removable head or plate 27 that is threaded in the open end of the cylinder, and by means of a screw 28 passed through the base board and threaded into the head or plate 27, the cylinder is rigidly secured on the board.

The plunger or piston for the cylinder is provided with a tubular stem 29 provided with a cupped head 30, within the cylinder, and the removable clamp plate 31, which is threaded ,or screwed into the cupped head, secures the annular gasket or washer 32 in the piston or plunger to insure close frictional contact of the piston with the walls of the cylinder.

The tubular stem has an exterior, upper air port 33, and a lower air port or open end 34 adapted to communicate with the interior of the cylinder below the piston or plunger. A flap valve 35 which controls the port 34 is pivoted at 36 on the plate 31, a light spring 3'? tends to hold this valve closed against the open port 34. As

the piston or plunger descends in the cylinder this valve is closed by compression of air within the cylinder below the piston in order that the dash-pot may perform its functions of retarding the descent of the piston. When the device is being re-set, after an operation of the dasl1- pot, the valve is opened by atmospheric air pressure through port 33 and the tubular stem, to equalize the air pressure in the cylinder below the piston and permit facile movement of the piston on its up-stroke.

The piston is pivoted on the longer arm of the lever through the pivotal connection of the stem at 38, and these two connections 18 and 38 on the lever, as shown, are provided with slots to compensate for the pivotal or swinging movement of the lever on its pivot 20.

The piston moves down in the dash pot or cylinder against compression of air in the cylinder below the piston or plunger, and thus retards the action of the motor magnet or solenoid, and the degree of compression within the cylinder is controlled or regulated to govern this movement of the piston. For this purpose a port 39 is located in the wall of the cylinder near its bottom and communicates with the atmosphere, and a bushing 40 is fashioned integral with or mounted on the cylinder for the use of a needle valve 41. The valve is threaded in the bushing and may be turned by the use of a screw driver or other tool for controlling the area of the outlet port 39, thereby governing the resistance offered by the compressed air in the cylinder, to the descent of the piston.

A vent hole 42 may be provided in the upper end of the cylinder 26 to permit exit of air from the upper portion of the cylinder, above the piston, when the piston is moving upwardly.

The phone switch 6 as indicated in Figure 5 comprises a pivoted element and a resilient or flexible element, and these elements are detailed in Figures 1 and 3 where the resilient or flexible member comprises a spring blade 43 secured at one end 44 to the bracket 21, above the dash-pot,

and at its free end the spring blade is provided with a contact or terminal 45.

The complementary contact member 46 of the phone switch is mounted by the attaching plate 47 on the lever 19, and the wires are connected to these terminals 45 and 46. As indicated in Figures 1 and 5 the switch 6 is normally open,

but in Figure 1 it will be apparent that the initial movement of the lever 19, that is, the down stroke of the longer arm of the lever, will immediately cause contact 46 to frictionally engage contact 45 for an electrical connection, and due to the flexibility and resiliency of the spring blade 43 these parts remain in contact while the lever is moving from its full line position to the dotted line position of Figure 1. As the lever is re-set after an operation, the contact 46 is lifted from engagement with the contact 45, and the phone circuit is broken thus cutting off the phone at the end of a predetermined period of time.

The time control switch 10 governs the length of the period during which the solenoid magnet or motor 9 is energized, and this switch, which is normally closed, is automatically opened at the end of the period to de-energize the solenoid. The time control switch for the motor magnet includes a fixed contact and terminal 48 secured by the attaching plate 49 on the bracket arm 50 that is rigid with the bracket 21, and below this 1" ed contact a movable contact and terminal 51 ranged. The movable contact is mounted on toe free end of a spring blade 52 having an end secured at 53 on the bracket arm 50, and this spring blade is located in the path of movement of a detent 54 attached at the free end of the lever 19. A wear block, as 55, may be attached to the spring blade to receive the impact of the detent 54, and it will be apparent that the detent, just before the final movement, or Just before the termination of the movement of the lever, will contact with the wear block, depress the free end of the spring blade 52, and thereby separate the contacts 51 and 48 to break the motor circuit.

The operating switch 7 may automatically be opened when the motor is de-energized, or any suitable means may be employed for opening the motor circuit to prevent unauthorized energize.- tion of the motor.

In Figure 5, where one exemplification of an installation isillustrated, I have shown the coin operated switch 7 to be closed for the purpose of energizing the auxiliary magnet 56 for the purpose of closing the motor switch circuit 8, and after performing its functions, the coin operated switch automatically opens, leaving the auxiliary magnet included in the primary circuit 8 which remains closed for a predetermined period of time.

A pilot or signal lamp 57 may be illuminated to indicate to the user of the telephone 1-2 that the apparatus is ready for use, and this lamp is automatically extinguished at the end or the predetermined period of time.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. In a time controlling device of the retarded type, the combination with a pivoted operating lever and a re-setting spring connected to one end thereof, of a motor-magnet for the lever and a pneumatic retarding device connected with the lever, an electrical service-switch and means on the lever co-acting therewith to close said switch by, and during, the movement of the lever, a motor-switch and means on the lever co-acting with said switch at the end of the lever movement to open the motor-switch.

2. In an electrically operated time controlling device, the combination with a pivoted operating lever and its re-setting spring of a motor-magnet for the lever and a pneumatic dash-pot connected to the lever, a service switch closed by and during the movement of the lever and a motorswitch opened at the end of the lever movement.

3. In an electrically operated time controlling device of the retarded type, the combination with a pivoted operating lever and its re-setting spring, of a motor-magnet and a retarding device connected with the lever, a service-switch comprising a contact having a resilient support and a complementary contact carried by the lever; a motor-switch comprising a stationary contact and a complementary contact having a resilient support, and means on the lever for co-action with the last mentioned resilient support to open 

